Zerka's response

[PATRICIA DESERT]

Dear Grouptalkers--here is Zerka's response to my request for her thoughts on the question "Is ASGPP dying?"  Patti

I am not going to get involved in "she says", "he says" and
"I said," or take time to go on group talk.  If this goes there,
that's fine with me.

I have expressed my concern about the ASGPP in the past
to the officers, that we needed to be more democratic, inclusive
and also efficient. In fact, there had been steady erosion of
membership although recently we were informed that, due to
the internet connection, membership is now picking up.  There
were no numbers given, just a general statement made. So
just how well are we doing in that area?  

There are several problems that are immediate and should be
remedied. The printed program of the conference is mailed out
too late. It arrived at my house a bare few months before the
April date.  The BPA, not endowed with any more funding than
we, sends out their program 6 months ahead.  Programs on the
net are fine, but even if I'm old fashioned, I like to have it in hand.
I have been informed that registration is not going as well as is
desirable, although in NY City there is usually a rather good size
walk-in registration.  Could it be that we are too little and too 
late?  We need to look at our own sociometry and break up subgroups which dominate the scene. 

Professionals need time to plan ahead.  Giving out dates and place at the conference is not enough; people are pressured and going to our meetings is expensive. The rates for registration and workshops are high.  

The program needs to get organized, finalized  and mailed out well before the conference.

We are a group who feel passionate about Moreno's spirit and getting together is important. It is also a financial sacrifice.  We
are not a centrally needed group for professionals to become
licensed. People come because they want to be there and they
have no outside financial support these days.

The reception to contributions to the program needs to be more
equitable. I liked the choices on the program but was upset to hear
later that some contributions were turned down for lack of space or
because they already were on the program, yet looking at it clearly
there were a number of people who appeared more than once. And
while I admire the input from the legal profession, why were those
persons twice on the program?  That is dishonest and I have so
stated.  How are such decisions made?  What are the guide lines?
There is general concern about this.

I think there is a danger that we do not offer enough to poor, young students.  The future is theirs. If we are not flexible enough,
inclusive and fair to our current membership, there is a danger that the downhill slide will take hold again.  In the past we used to let students in for free and they came. Maybe a far more modest fee
is needed.  But, the publicity needs to be done, to let them know we are there and what we stand for.

I do not think that the Council allows the Executive Director the
space he needs to be effective and give his input. 

There have been improvements on the program in welcoming the
newcomers; are there other ways in which they can be included?

I realize that all the work is a genuine labor of love, that everyone
involved is pressured. But let's not forget what gives the spark
to our organization. If we are not spontaneous and creative, how
can we account for ourselves? 

What would our lives be like if we did not have Moreno's spirit in 
our own world?

I miss being able to go to the conference but send you all my 
very best.

Zerka 
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